Justicia Shipena
European Union (EU) ambassador to Namibia Ana Beatriz Martins says Namibia has every reason to be concerned about foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, as it remains Africa’s only exporter of fresh meat to the European market.
Martins made the remarks on Wednesday, during the handover of nine livestock transport vehicles worth about N$10 million to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform in Windhoek.
“As Africa’s only fresh meat exporter to Europe, Namibia has good reason to be alarmed by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks on its external borders,” she said.
The fleet includes eight Land Cruiser 79 4.2D vehicles and one Hino 500 Series 1322 truck. The vehicles are equipped with trailers and are designed to transport livestock across difficult terrain in the Northern Communal Areas.
She said the vehicles form part of the EU’s support to strengthen livestock value chains in the north of Namibia.
The vehicles were funded under the 11th European Development Fund as part of the EU’s Livestock Support Programme. Eight months ago, the EU handed over five heavy-duty IVECO Astra trucks worth N$20.68 million under the same programme.
Through the project, the EU made about N$140 million available to support livestock production in the northern communal areas. The programme included the construction of a 1 000-cattle feedlot in Etunda, the upgrade of the Opuwo slaughterhouse into an abattoir, improvements to quarantine facilities in Omutambo Maowe and the construction of fences north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence.
Furthermore, Martins said agriculture will remain a priority in EU-Namibia cooperation and confirmed that it will be one of five focus sectors at the EU-Namibia Business Forum scheduled for May.
“To the farmers of the Northern Communal Areas, I wish to stress that these vehicles are meant to serve them and to unlock long-awaited opportunities, such as to move their livestock safely, to access more lucrative markets, and to strengthen their businesses, families and communities,” she said.
At the same ceremony, deputy minister of agriculture, fisheries, water, and land reform, Ruthy Masake, said the vehicles will help veterinary teams reach remote areas, conduct animal health checks, fight foot-and-mouth disease, improve livestock traceability and maintain export standards.
The director general of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Kaire Mbuende, said the vehicles will promote entrepreneurship and improve livelihoods in the same area.
He said Namibia’s reclassification as a lower-middle-income country shows that growth must be supported by structural change.
“Without deep structural reform, without value addition, productivity gains, and broader participation in formal markets, countries risk stagnation within the middle-income trap,” he said.
Mbuende said improving transport logistics will strengthen value chains and expand market participation.
“We are strengthening value chains. We are improving price competitiveness. We are expanding market participation. And we are laying the foundation for agro-industrial transformation,” he said.
He urged proper management of the vehicles to ensure long-term impact.
